Year of Wonder: Classical Music For Every Day (Part Two)

[IsFuzzyBeagMise]

Year of Wonder (Part One)

New thread to accompany the book Year of Wonder by Clemency Burton Hill.

All welcome to join in.

I'm probably more cheered than I should be by that, Fuzzy!

Surprised myself by really liking the Philip Glass piece. I thought it sounded a lot like the soundtrack to the film Carol (which I like very much), so went down an internet rabbit hole and discovered that others also think that soundtrack is somewhat Glass-derivative.

I also really liked the piece from Orfeo et Euridice and like you said @IsFuzzyBeagMise, it sounded familiar to me although I've never seen the opera.

I liked the Bridge and Lully pieces too, but not as much.

😂

Have caught up. All perfectly pleasant but it was today's that I loved, Folias criollas: Gallarda Napolitana, by Antonio Valente. Like the Guaracha from late August, it could be classified as world music as much as classical, and these are the ones I play on repeat for pleasure.

I loved today's piece too. It was really joyful. I agree Biblio that you could consider this type of piece as world music.

Cantus Arcticus 'Melankolia': Einojuani Rautavaara.

Now for something different! Wow.
This is very strange and eerie but beautiful too in a stark, bleak kind of way.

Agreed, Fuzzy - not a cosy listen but atmospheric.

Bridge - this was lovely. Beautiful harmonies, alternately warmer and cooler. As ever, great to have some of the lyrics, and to know where to look for the rest. I don't often add choral stuff to my playlist but this feels so right for the time of year, so on it goes.

Lully - didn't like this. For me it has the air of "stuffiness" and formality that I once found off-putting about classical music before I started to find all the other amazing bits I do like. Admittedly the tenor and countertenor on the recording I listened to blended beautifully though.

Valente was jolly and easy to listen to but not my cup of tea particularly.

Rautavaara - Weird and wonderful, very evocative, distinctly Scandinavian - I think you can hear some echoes of the opening orchestral parts of the Sibelius Violin concerto in the delicate and minimal strings. My only criticism is that it feels like a very wintry piece (in fact I'm seeing it at the end of November as part of a winter themed programme), and we have a golden autumn day here. But that's not Clemency's fault!

'Touch her soft lips': arr Bob Chilcott.

This is lovely and soothing; rather like a lullaby.

Really liked the Gluck/ Sgambati - it felt familiar to me too! I wonder why. Beautifully romantic.

I also really enjoyed the Bridge and it felt very autumnal and appropriate tonight as I huddle under my blanket on the sofa.

The Lully won’t make my favourites list but I enjoyed imagining I was at Versailles.

Like biblio though it was the Valente that stood out for me. Yes it’s joyful and there’s something really modern about it too. Will definitely play this again and again.

Rautavaara - wow. Was ready to dismiss as ‘not my thing’ at first, but there was something fascinating about it. Hugely evocative and atmospheric. Was rather left wanting more.

Walton/ Chilcott - this was lovely too.

What a great run of pieces - hope it continues tomorrow for my birthday :)

Happy Birthday Alias 🎉🥳🎈🍰
I hope you have a lovely day!

Symphony no. 9 in D Minor, Adagio: Anton Bruckner.

May I be the first person to suggest that this is rather long? 😁I'm not particularly keen on this one. It doesn't evoke particularly strong feelings for me. When I used to play in orchestras, I would probably have found this interesting to play. As a listener, I usually prefer more simple, understated music. Also it's very long. Did I mention it's long 😄The first time I had this on, I thought I must have listened to at least two pieces on the playlist by accident.

Happy birthday, Alias!

Go me for listening to all 24 months, although I did lie down with my eyes closed as suggested and burnt my dinner. What it is to suffer for art.

I did think it was a big-hearted piece with some beautiful moments, although it won't be a regular listen.

24 months, Biblio? 😂
Felt like it alright!

Yes. I will concede that it did have some lovely moments.

Ooh, there's a Freudian slip!

😂

I’m gutted that it’s an epically long one for my birthday - the day has been hectic with work and an injured foot and a very fractious toddler so I haven’t had chance to listen yet. Think I’ll listen in bed though can’t guarantee to stay awake for it all.

Suite española 'Serenata': Isaac Albaniz.

I recognise this one from hearing it often.
It's pleasant and not at all challenging* to listen to :) The Bruckner *was fine, but I don’t think I'll go back to it again.

Listened to the Bruckner in bed, there were some beautiful moments as has been said, and others where I was thinking ‘urgh just hurry UP’.

The Albaniz was pretty.

Also I’m pretty sure I had a music box that played the Albaniz piece - present from Spain obviously 🙂

Today was.... nice. I would feel sophisticated if I was drinking coffee in a cafe with this on in the background. It would have gone better with the patatas o pobres I burnt while listening to the Bruckner yesterday.

Thinking "Just hurry up!" while in bed is never a good thing, Alias. [Immature snigger]

• Patatas a lot pobre, says Google.

Nope, that's what autocorrect says. Patatas a lo pobre.

It's the rise of the machines.

Wouldn’t be the first time either biblio 🙈

Ooh, cheeky 😉

We haven't heard from TheTurn for a while.
I hope they didn't* *get lost in the Bruckner 😄

I got lost in the Bruckner

I disobeyed Clemency and didn't simply sit and listen, but had it as the soundtrack to cleaning the kitchen. So maybe I wasn't giving it a fair crack. But it was...patchy. There were some lovely moments, with delicate woodwinds, but it was very disjointed and not cohesive. I felt like this movement had mini-movements within it, which was all just.a bit much after a long day.

The Albaniz I wasn't familiar with, and it just sort of washed over me pleasantly without making much of an impression.